TED2001
Eva Zeisel: The playful search for beauty
Eva Zeisel：玩美人生
Filmed:
Readability: 3.5
503,633 views
瓷器設計師Eva Zeisel回顧75年的設計生涯。究竟是什麼，讓她從1926年到今日(最新的作品發表於2008年)，永保設計的新鮮感？是她的美學和遊戲的本能，以及不斷冒險的動力。且聽來自這位豐富、絢爛生命的故事。
Eva Zeisel - Designer
The legendary Eva Zeisel worked as a ceramics designer -- whose curvy, sensual pieces bring delight and elegance to tabletops around the world. Full bio
The legendary Eva Zeisel worked as a ceramics designer -- whose curvy, sensual pieces bring delight and elegance to tabletops around the world. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
So I understand that this meeting was planned,
0
0
4000
我知道這場講座是活動的一部分
00:16
and the slogan was From Was to Still.
1
4000
4000
活動標語是「從『曾經』到『延續』」
00:20
And I am illustrating Still.
2
8000
5000
而我是「延續」的長青代表
00:25
Which, of course, I am not agreeing with because,
3
13000
4000
當然，我並不同意這個題目
00:29
although I am 94, I am not still working.
4
17000
4000
雖然我已經94歲了，不表示我是「繼續」工作
00:33
And anybody who asks me, "Are you still doing this or that?"
5
21000
6000
如果有人問我「你還繼續工作嗎?」
00:39
I don't answer because I'm not doing things still, I'm doing it like I always did.
6
27000
7000
我並不回答，因為我並不是「延續」我以前做的事，而是我就和以前的我一樣
00:46
I still have -- or did I use the word still? I didn't mean that.
7
34000
6000
我還繼續 -- 我剛剛是用了「繼續」這個詞嗎? 我不是這個意思
00:52
(Laughter)
8
40000
4000
(笑聲)
00:56
I have my file which is called To Do. I have my plans.
9
44000
10000
我有我待辦的任務，我有我的計畫
01:06
I have my clients. I am doing my work like I always did.
10
54000
5000
我有我的客戶。我一如往常地做這份工作。
01:13
So this takes care of my age.
11
61000
4000
這讓我能像以前一樣充滿活力
01:18
I want to show you my work so you know what I am doing and why I am here.
12
66000
7000
我將呈現我的作品，讓你們了解我的工作以及我到這裡分享的原因
01:25
This was about 1925.
13
73000
3000
這是發表於1925年
01:30
All of these things were made during the last 75 years.
14
78000
7000
這些作品都是發表於...過去75年
01:39
(Laughter)
15
87000
2000
(笑聲)
01:41
(Applause)
16
89000
5000
(掌聲)
01:47
But, of course, I'm working since 25,
17
95000
3000
不過當然，我從25歲就開始設計
01:50
doing more or less what you see here. This is Castleton China.
18
98000
5000
所做的差不多如你們這裡所見到的。這是卡斯爾頓瓷器
01:55
This was an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art.
19
103000
4000
它曾經是現代藝術博物館的展覽品
02:01
This is now for sale at the Metropolitan Museum.
20
109000
3000
現在則陳列在大都會藝術博物館販售
02:05
This is still at the Metropolitan Museum now for sale.
21
113000
3000
它現在還在那裡待價而沽
02:11
This is a portrait of my daughter and myself.
22
119000
3000
這是仿擬女兒和我的模樣
02:16
(Applause)
23
124000
10000
(掌聲)
02:26
These were just some of the things I've made.
24
134000
4000
這些只是我的作品中的一部分
02:30
I made hundreds of them for the last 75 years.
25
138000
5000
在過去75年，我創作了上百個作品
02:35
I call myself a maker of things.
26
143000
3000
我稱自己為這些作品的「創作者」
02:39
I don't call myself an industrial designer because I'm other things.
27
147000
7000
我不會稱自己為「工藝設計師」，因為我不太一樣
02:47
Industrial designers want to make novel things.
28
155000
4000
工藝設計師想要做出新奇的東西
02:52
Novelty is a concept of commerce, not an aesthetic concept.
29
160000
8000
「新奇」是商業的概念，而不是美學的概念
03:01
The industrial design magazine, I believe, is called "Innovation."
30
169000
8000
有本工藝設計的雜誌，我記得是叫作「創新」
03:09
Innovation is not part of the aim of my work.
31
177000
5000
但創新並非我設計的目的
03:19
Well, makers of things: they make things more beautiful, more elegant,
32
187000
8000
所謂創作者，相較於那些工匠的作品，他們創作的東西更漂亮
03:27
more comfortable than just the craftsmen do.
33
195000
5000
更優雅、更舒適
03:32
I have so much to say. I have to think what I am going to say.
34
200000
5000
我有好多話想說。我必須要想想我現在要說什麼
03:37
Well, to describe our profession otherwise,
35
205000
4000
換個方式描述我們的專業
03:41
we are actually concerned with the playful search for beauty.
36
209000
6000
我們實際上關心的是，對於美麗事物的玩樂探索
03:48
That means the playful search for beauty was called the first activity of Man.
37
216000
8000
這意味著，對美的玩樂探索，即是人類發展的第一個活動
03:57
Sarah Smith, who was a mathematics professor at MIT, wrote,
38
225000
6000
Sarah Smith，一位麻省理工的數學教授，寫道
04:03
"The playful search for beauty was Man's first activity --
39
231000
6000
「人類的第一個活動，就是對於美麗事物的玩耍探索 --
04:10
that all useful qualities and all material qualities
40
238000
6000
任何實用的價值和任何物質的價值
04:16
were developed from the playful search for beauty."
41
244000
6000
都是源自於此。」
04:22
These are tiles. The word, "playful" is a necessary aspect of our work
42
250000
7000
這些就是設計的基石。這個字，「玩」，是我們這行的必備
04:29
because, actually, one of our problems is that we have to make,
43
257000
9000
因為，我們最大的挑戰就是我們必須
04:38
produce, lovely things throughout all of life, and this for me is now 75 years.
44
266000
12000
創作出討人喜愛的東西，費盡畢生心力。而對我來說，「畢生」已經是75年了
04:51
So how can you, without drying up,
45
279000
3000
所以你如何才能避免創意枯竭
04:54
make things with the same pleasure, as a gift to others, for so long?
46
282000
8000
源源不絕地用同樣的熱情創作，每次都像是給心儀的人禮物般，永不疲倦?
05:03
The playful is therefore an important part of our quality as designer.
47
291000
9000
所以，玩心是設計者素質高下的要素
05:16
Let me tell you some about my life.
48
304000
4000
我來談談我的人生吧
05:21
As I said, I started to do these things 75 years ago.
49
309000
7000
如同我剛剛所說的，我已經從業75年
05:29
My first exhibition in the United States
50
317000
5000
我在美國第一次有作品展出
05:34
was at the Sesquicentennial exhibition in 1926 --
51
322000
5000
是1926年，美國獨立150周年特展 --
05:39
that the Hungarian government sent one of my hand-drawn pieces as part of the exhibit.
52
327000
10000
匈牙利政府提供了一件我的手繪作品參展
05:57
My work actually took me through many countries,
53
345000
8000
我的作品帶領我環遊各國
06:05
and showed me a great part of the world.
54
353000
3000
讓我見識世界
06:08
This is not that they took me -- the work didn't take me --
55
356000
4000
這不是指它們真的帶領我 -- 我的作品並沒有「帶著」我 --
06:12
I made the things particularly because I wanted to use them to see the world.
56
360000
8000
我創作這些作品，是因為我希望透過它們看看世界
06:20
I was incredibly curious to see the world, and I made all these things,
57
368000
8000
我對世界充滿好奇，於是我做出這些作品
06:28
which then finally did take me to see many countries and many cultures.
58
376000
6000
它們也真的引領我去認識許多國家和文化
06:35
I started as an apprentice to a Hungarian craftsman,
59
383000
11000
我剛入行時，是拜一位匈牙利師傅為師
06:46
and this taught me what the guild system was in Middle Ages.
60
394000
8000
這讓我領略到，中世紀時手工業的行規
06:54
The guild system: that means when I was an apprentice,
61
402000
5000
行規指的是，當我還是個學徒
06:59
I had to apprentice myself in order to become a pottery master.
62
407000
6000
我必須拜師學藝，以成為一個陶器師傅
07:08
In my shop where I studied, or learned, there was a traditional hierarchy
63
416000
11000
在我受訓求學的工房，有著傳統的師徒階級制
07:21
of master, journeyman and learned worker, and apprentice,
64
429000
7000
分作師傅、資深工藝師、學長和學徒
07:28
and I worked as the apprentice.
65
436000
3000
而我當時還只是個學徒
07:33
The work as an apprentice was very primitive.
66
441000
7000
一個學徒要做的事情是很原始粗重的
07:40
That means I had to actually learn every aspect of making pottery by hand.
67
448000
9000
意思是，我必須親手操作每一個製作陶器的流程
07:49
We mashed the clay with our feet when it came from the hillside.
68
457000
11000
我們用的黏土來自山上，先經過腳踩
08:02
After that, it had to be kneaded. It had to then go in, kind of, a mangle.
69
470000
5000
接著揉捏，然後經過壓榨機處理
08:07
And then finally it was prepared for the throwing.
70
475000
7000
最後就是拋摔
08:15
And there I really worked as an apprentice.
71
483000
4000
這些就是我作為學徒所要做的事
08:19
My master took me to set ovens
72
487000
5000
我的師父還會領我去搭建窯爐
08:24
because this was part of oven-making, oven-setting, in the time.
73
492000
8000
當時這是學徒一定要做的
08:32
And finally, I had received a document
74
500000
5000
最後，我領到一份證書
08:37
that I had accomplished my apprenticeship successfully,
75
505000
6000
證明我已順利完成我的學徒訓練
08:43
that I had behaved morally, and this document was given to me
76
511000
7000
並學習不倦、尊師重道，就可以得到這份證書
08:50
by the Guild of Roof-Coverers, Rail-Diggers, Oven-Setters,
77
518000
7000
授予我證書的權威代表，包括鋪設屋頂的工人、鐵路工人、搭建烤爐的工人
08:57
Chimney Sweeps and Potters.
78
525000
4000
清理煙囪的工人，以及燒陶師傅
09:01
(Laughter)
79
529000
3000
(笑聲)
09:04
I also got at the time a workbook which explained my rights
80
532000
6000
我當時還收到一本手冊，說明學徒的權利
09:10
and my working conditions, and I still have that workbook.
81
538000
6000
以及工作待遇。這本手冊，直到現在我都還留著
09:16
First I set up a shop in my own garden,
82
544000
5000
學徒畢業後，我先在自己的庭院裡設立一個工作室
09:21
and made pottery which I sold on the marketplace in Budapest.
83
549000
5000
然後在布達佩斯販售我的陶藝作品
09:27
And there I was sitting, and my then-boyfriend --
84
555000
7000
我坐在那裡，而我當時的男友 --
09:34
I didn't mean it was a boyfriend like it is meant today --
85
562000
4000
我所說的男友，並不是今天大家所講的那種「男友」 --
09:38
but my boyfriend and I sat at the market and sold the pots.
86
566000
5000
我的男友和我一起坐在市場攤位，販售陶器
09:43
My mother thought that this was not very proper,
87
571000
3000
我母親認為這不太妥當
09:46
so she sat with us to add propriety to this activity.
88
574000
9000
所以她也來和我們坐在一起，讓這一切「妥當」一點
09:55
(Laughter)
89
583000
2000
(笑聲)
09:58
However, after a while there was a new factory being built in Budapest,
90
586000
6000
好景不常，沒多久布達佩斯就出現了一座新的工廠
10:04
a pottery factory, a large one.
91
592000
3000
一座陶器工廠，好大一座
10:07
And I visited it with several ladies, and asked all sorts of questions of the director.
92
595000
7000
我和幾個女孩子一起去參觀，纏著工廠的主任問個不停
10:14
Then the director asked me, why do you ask all these questions?
93
602000
4000
那個主任就反問我，為什麼對這些事情這麼好奇?
10:18
I said, I also have a pottery.
94
606000
4000
我回答，因為我也有座工房
10:22
So he asked me, could he please visit me, and then finally he did,
95
610000
5000
他詢問我是否能拜訪我的工作室，他也真的來了
10:27
and explained to me that what I did now in my shop was an anachronism,
96
615000
6000
並且向我解釋，說像我這樣的工作模式已經落伍了
10:33
that the industrial revolution had broken out,
97
621000
3000
工業時代已經來臨
10:36
and that I rather should join the factory.
98
624000
3000
我應該要加入工廠的行列
10:39
There he made an art department for me where I worked for several months.
99
627000
6000
於是他為我創立了一個藝術部門，我也在那裡工作了幾個月
10:45
However, everybody in the factory spent his time at the art department.
100
633000
8000
然而，工廠內的每個人都開始花時間在藝術組的任務上
10:53
The director there said there were several women casting
101
641000
9000
主任說，有幾個女工在...鑄造
11:02
and producing my designs now in molds, and this was sold also to America.
102
650000
8000
鑄模來製造我的設計作品，並銷到美國
11:10
I remember that it was quite successful.
103
658000
4000
我記得在當時還蠻成功的
11:14
However, the director, the chemist, model maker -- everybody --
104
662000
7000
可是，無論是主任、化學研究員、製模工人等 -- 工廠裡的每個人 --
11:21
concerned himself much more with the art department --
105
669000
4000
都以為自己是藝術組的一員 --
11:25
that means, with my work -- than making toilets,
106
673000
4000
以為我設計的作品也是他們的作品 -- 而自己不再是製造馬桶的成員
11:29
so finally they got a letter from the center, from the bank who owned the factory,
107
677000
8000
後來他們就收到總部寄來的消息，是擁有公司所有權的銀行寄發的
11:37
saying, make toilet-setting behind the art department, and that was my end.
108
685000
5000
內容說到，把藝術組歸到馬桶裝設組的管理麾下，於是這也成為我這份工作的句點。
11:43
So this gave me the possibility because now I was a journeyman,
109
691000
4000
這樣讓我在成為資深工藝師之後，
11:47
and journeymen also take their satchel and go to see the world.
110
695000
6000
有機會帶著行囊去巡訪世界。
11:53
So as a journeyman, I put an ad into the paper that I had studied,
111
701000
6000
我在報上登了一則廣告，簡介我的資深工藝師身分、學歷
11:59
that I was a down-to-earth potter's journeyman
112
707000
4000
說明我是一個穩紮穩打的陶藝師
12:03
and I was looking for a job as a journeyman.
113
711000
3000
希望尋找一份資深工藝師的職務
12:06
And I got several answers, and I accepted the one
114
714000
5000
我得到一些回音，並且接受了其中一個工作
12:11
which was farthest from home and practically, I thought, halfway to America.
115
719000
6000
它的位置距離我家最遠，而且在我心目中，那幾乎是從家裡到美國路途的一半
12:17
And that was in Hamburg.
116
725000
3000
它位於德國漢堡
12:20
Then I first took this job in Hamburg, at an art pottery
117
728000
8000
我在這間位於漢堡的陶藝工房工作
12:28
where everything was done on the wheel,
118
736000
3000
在這裡，所有的作品都是在轆轤上操作
12:31
and so I worked in a shop where there were several potters.
119
739000
7000
我與其他幾個工藝師一起工作
12:38
And the first day, I was coming to take my place at the turntable --
120
746000
10000
上工第一天，我正要選擇要使用的轆轤 --
12:48
there were three or four turntables -- and one of them, behind where I was sitting,
121
756000
9000
總共大概有三到四個 --發現其中一個陶藝師在我身後
12:57
was a hunchback, a deaf-mute hunchback, who smelled very bad.
122
765000
7000
他是個駝子，既聾又啞，還散發濃濃臭味
13:04
So I doused him in cologne every day, which he thought was very nice,
123
772000
7000
於是我每天朝他噴灑古龍水，他也感到很開心
13:11
and therefore he brought bread and butter every day,
124
779000
5000
作為回報，他每天買了麵包和奶油來
13:16
which I had to eat out of courtesy.
125
784000
3000
我也很禮貌地吃了
13:19
The first day I came to work in this shop
126
787000
4000
我工作的第一天
13:23
there was on my wheel a surprise for me.
127
791000
6000
有個驚喜在我的轤轆上等著我
13:30
My colleagues had thoughtfully put on the wheel where I was supposed to work
128
798000
12000
我的同事們在我要用來工作的轤轆上，貼心地擺上
13:42
a very nicely modeled natural man's organs.
129
810000
6000
一個非常逼真的陽具模型
13:48
(Laughter)
130
816000
4000
(笑聲)
13:54
After I brushed them off with a hand motion, they were very --
131
822000
5000
在我手一揮把它拍開後，他們感到非常 --
13:59
I finally was now accepted, and worked there for some six months.
132
827000
6000
我終於被他們接納，在那裡工作了約六個月
14:06
This was my first job.
133
834000
3000
這就是我的第一份工作
14:11
If I go on like this, you will be here till midnight.
134
839000
4000
如果我繼續用這樣的進度講故事，你們到半夜都走不了
14:15
(Laughter)
135
843000
2000
(笑聲)
14:17
(Applause)
136
845000
4000
(掌聲)
14:21
So I will try speed it up a little
137
849000
3000
所以我會試著加快一點
14:24
(Laughter)
138
852000
2000
(笑聲)
14:26
Moderator: Eva, we have about five minutes.
139
854000
2000
主持人：Eva，我們大概只剩五分鐘
14:28
(Laughter)
140
856000
4000
(笑聲)
14:33
Eva Zeisel: Are you sure?
141
861000
2000
Eva Zeisel: 你是認真的嗎?
14:36
Moderator: Yes, I am sure.
142
864000
3000
主持人：對，我很確定
14:39
EZ: Well, if you are sure,
143
867000
2000
EZ：好吧，如果你確定的話
14:41
I have to tell you that within five minutes I will talk very fast.
144
869000
5000
我必須告訴你們，在接下來的五分鐘我會講得非常快
14:46
And actually, my work took me to many countries
145
874000
8000
事實上，我的工作讓我造訪了許多國家
14:54
because I used my work to fill my curiosity.
146
882000
5000
我藉由工作滿足我的好奇心
14:59
And among other things, other countries I worked, was in the Soviet Union,
147
887000
7000
在這些作品、這些旅居過的國家中，我曾在蘇聯工作
15:06
where I worked from '32 to '37 -- actually, to '36.
148
894000
8000
從1932到1937年 -- 應該是1936年
15:14
I was finally there, although I had nothing to do -- I was a foreign expert.
149
902000
6000
我終於到了蘇聯，雖然我也沒有特殊的期待或目的 -- 我算是外國專家
15:20
I became art director of the china and glass industry,
150
908000
3000
在那裡擔任陶瓷和玻璃工業的藝術總監
15:23
and eventually under Stalin's purges -- at the beginning of Stalin's purges,
151
911000
11000
後來在史達林的整肅之下 -- 史達林剛開始實施整肅運動時
15:34
I didn't know that hundreds of thousands of innocent people were arrested.
152
922000
6000
我並不知道成千上萬的無辜民眾被銬上手撩
15:40
So I was arrested quite early in Stalin's purges,
153
928000
5000
所以在大整肅期間，我是最早被逮捕的其中一人
15:45
and spent 16 months in a Russian prison.
154
933000
8000
在俄國監獄蹲了16個月
15:53
The accusation was that I had successfully prepared an Attentat on Stalin's life.
155
941000
8000
我的罪名是，預謀行刺史達林
16:01
This was a very dangerous accusation.
156
949000
6000
這是很嚴重的指控
16:07
And if this is the end of my five minutes, I want to tell you that
157
955000
7000
如果這是我演講的最後5分鐘，我想要分享這件事
16:14
I actually did survive, which was a surprise.
158
962000
5000
我很訝異自己後來竟大難不死
16:21
But since I survived and I'm here,
159
969000
3000
不過既然我度過這個難關，來到了這裡
16:24
and since this is the end of the five minutes, I will --
160
972000
4000
既然這是最後五分鐘，我要 --
16:28
Moderator: Tell me when your last trip to Russia was.
161
976000
2000
主持人：請告訴我們妳最近一次到俄國是什麼時候
16:30
Weren't you there recently?
162
978000
2000
好像最近才去過?
16:32
EZ: Oh, this summer, in fact,
163
980000
3000
EZ：噢事實上，是今年夏天
16:35
the Lomonosov factory was bought by an American company, invited me.
164
983000
11000
羅蒙諾索夫工廠被一間美商買下，他們邀請我過去
16:47
They found out that I had worked in '33 at this factory,
165
995000
4000
他們得知我曾於1933年在羅蒙諾索夫工作過
16:51
and they came to my studio in Rockland County,
166
999000
7000
他們來到我在羅克蘭縣的工作室
16:58
and brought the 15 of their artists to visit me here.
167
1006000
6000
帶著他們的15位藝術家來拜訪我
17:04
And they invited myself to come to the Russian factory last summer,
168
1012000
6000
並邀請我於隔年夏天去參訪他們
17:10
in July, to make some dishes, design some dishes.
169
1018000
5000
七月份的時候，去設計一些杯盤餐具
17:15
And since I don't like to travel alone, they also invited my daughter,
170
1023000
8000
因為我不愛一個人旅行，所以他們也一併邀請我的女兒
17:23
son-in-law and granddaughter,
171
1031000
2000
女婿和孫女
17:25
so we had a lovely trip to see Russia today,
172
1033000
5000
所以我們全家有個愉快的旅程，看到了今日的俄國
17:30
which is not a very pleasant and happy view.
173
1038000
4000
那不是一個快樂和諧的景象
17:35
Here I am now, if this is the end? Thank you.
174
1043000
5000
講到這裡，差不多算結束了? 謝謝大家
17:40
(Applause)
175
1048000
23000
(掌聲)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Eva Zeisel - DesignerThe legendary Eva Zeisel worked as a ceramics designer -- whose curvy, sensual pieces bring delight and elegance to tabletops around the world.
Why you should listen
Young Eva Zeisel was driven by two desires: to make beautiful things, and to see the world. Her long and legendary career in ceramics helped her do both. Born in Budapest in 1906, she apprenticed to a guild of potters as a teenager, then worked in Germany and later Russia (where she was imprisoned by Stalin for 16 months) and Vienna. Landing in New York in 1938 with her husband Hans, Zeisel began her second design career.
In the American postwar period, Zeisel's work simply defined the era. Organic shapes, toned colors, a sense of fun and play -- her Town and Country line for Red Wing in particular evokes an urbane early-1950s kitchen where you'd be likely to get an excellent cup of coffee and some good conversation.
Zeisel took a break from design in the 1960s and 1970s, returning to the scene in the 1980s as interest in her older work revived. But as she collected lifetime achievement awards and saw centenary exhibitions open and close, she didn't simply rehash her older work for the repro crowd -- instead branching out into glassware and furniture. Zeisel died in late 2011 at the age of 105.
Eva Zeisel | Speaker | TED.com